Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher


 

For immediate release

October 22, 2010

Kwantlen’s adult learning program hosts presentation by veteran Navy lieutenant-commander

(METRO VANCOUVER, B.C.) Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Third Age Learning at Kwantlen (TALK) program hosts a presentation by Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher who will provide an overview of the Canadian Navy with a focus on the Naval Reserve at noon, Saturday, October 23, Kwantlen Surrey Campus Conference Centre (Cedar Building, 12666 72nd Ave, Surrey).

As a 25-year veteran female officer in the Navy and one of the first women to attain a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 1989, Fisher will highlight women who have assumed leadership roles in the Navy and share her own insight and experiences.
“I joined the Naval Reserve on a whim as a young 17-year-old, fresh out of high school. Twenty-five years later, the Navy is still providing me with challenges, adventures and many leadership opportunities, not to mention some wonderful friends I made along the way,” comments Fisher.

Looking forward to the future of women’s role in the Navy, Fisher holds an optimistic view, “The Canadian Armed Forces is truly an equitable employer with equal salaries and opportunities for male and female officers. The future looks bright!”

Coinciding with TALK’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday, this special lecture featuring Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher is one of the organization’s many creative and stimulating educational opportunities for people over the age of 50.

TALK is a participatory learning experience with no quizzes, grades or prerequisites. The learning process is lively, full of discussion, controversy, humour, insight and wisdom. In addition to participating in courses, students can become a group facilitator, plan curriculum, identify speakers, prepare newsletters or recruit new members. For the complete list of upcoming events or more information about TALK, please visit: kwantlen.ca/talk

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Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher’s biography
Lieutenant-Commander Elaine Fisher, a native of Edmonton, enrolled in the Canadian Naval Reserve in 1985 despite having rarely seen the ocean. Initially trained as a non-commissioned communicator, when seagoing trades were opened to women in 1988 she seized the opportunity to transfer to the Maritime Surface occupation. She was one of Canada’s first women to attain a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 1989. She has since served all over Canada, both “ashore”, and “afloat” in a variety of ships conducting patrols on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, north to Alaska and south as far as Panama. Since moving to Vancouver in 1997, she has served Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) DISCOVERY in a variety of senior positions before being appointed as the unit’s Commanding Officer in July 2008. In her civilian life, she works in the field of environmental and natural sciences, is married to former Lieutenant(Navy) Colin Oleksyn, and they have two energetic girls.

For more information about this event or TALK, contact:
Brian Bjarnason
President, Third Age Learning at Kwantlen
Tel: 604.531.5069
bjarnb@shaw.ca

OR

For more information about Kwantlen, contact:
Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing & Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kwantlen.ca